Insect escapement for screens

ABSTRACT

A funnel shaped insect escapement adapted to be positioned over a cutout in a screen and removably secured thereon.

United States Patent 11 1 Buckner 1451 Nov. 6, 1973 INSECT ESCAPEMENT FOR SCREENS [76] Inventor: Harry F. Buekner, 5655 Gulley, Dearborn Heights, Mich. 48127 [22] Filed: Aug. 7, 1972 21 Appl. No.1 278,576

521 U.S.Cl. ..160/16 51 lnt.Cl ..E06b 9/52 [58] Field ofSearch ..160/12-17; 285/161 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,260,975 3/1918 Fulton 160/16 2/1898 Muzzy 160/16 5/1901 Muzzy 1 1. 160/16 1/1969 Wcagant 285/161 Primary ExaminerPeter M. Caun Att0rney-J. King Harness et al.

ABSTRACT A funnel shaped insect escapement adapted to be positioned over a cutout in a screen and removably secured thereon.

1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures 1 INSECT ESCAPEMENT FOR SCREENS BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is directed to an insect escape ment for a screen and more particularly to a removably mounted escapement.

An object of the present invention is to provide an insect escapement for conventional door and window screens which can be both readily installed on a screen and also readily removed from the screen when it is de sired to remove the screen for storage.

Another object of the invention is to provide an economical insect escapement which is successful in re moving insects such as gnats and flies.

The foregoing as well as additional objects and advantages of the invention willbe seen in the ensuing description and claims which are to be taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWING The drawing illustrates a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance with the best mode presently contemplated for carrying out the invention.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view having portions broken away of the insect escapement according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken in the direction of arrow 2 in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the escapement of FIGS. 1 and 2 mounted on a window screen.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Turning now to the drawing, the insect escapement according to the present invention comprises a funnel shaped screen 12 open at both ends. When escapement 10 is mounted to a window screen 14, the larger end of screen 12 is positioned over a circular cutout 16 in the screen. A circular annular insert 18 is inserted into the larger end of screen 12 and securely retained therein by means of a collar 20 extending around the outside of screen 12 over insert l8.'lnsert 18 includes a radial flange 22 extending over the edge of screen 12 and overlapping the margin of screen 14 around cutout 16. Insert 18 has a threaded bore 24 which has a diameter preferably only slightly less than the diameter of cutout 16. Escapement 10 is securely retained on screen 14 by means of an annular cap 26, the outer wall of which is threaded as at 28 for threading into bore 24. Cap 26 includes a radial flange 30 extending around the periphery thereof and a pair of tabs 32 on flange 30 which are used to twist cap 26 onto retainer 18. When cap 26 is threaded onto retainer 18, flange 30 abuts the margin of screen 14 around cutout 16 so that the margin of screen 14 around cutout 16 is sandwiched between flanges 30 and 22. Thus, it will be perceived that escapement 10 can be expeditiously installed in a window screen by simply cutting a suitable opening in the screen andthereafter mounting the escapement thereon over the opening. When it is desired to remove the screen for storage, escapement 10 can be readily removed and this allows the screen to be stacked along with other screens for convenient storage.

Preferably, screen 12 curves upwardly away from screen 14 and has a curvature of approximately Also, there is preferably a substantial taper to screen 12 so that the possibility of insects entering via the open exterior end thereof is relatively small. It is also desirable to mount the escapement at the upper portion of the screen since it has been observed that insects such as flies or gnats have a tendency to travel generally upwardly on the screen. Thus, an insect walking up screen 14 in the vicinity of the escapement is likely to encounter flange 30 during its travel and will likely walk onto the flange rather than continuing around the edge thereof. Upon walking over the flange, it will continue into the bore of cap 26 and then into screen 12. Since screen 12 curves upwardly away from screen 14, the insect will continue its generally upward travel and ultimately exit at the remote open end of the screen.

What is claimed is:

1. An insect escapement for a cutout in a screen comprising a funnel-shaped extension open at opposite ends and adapted to be positioned exteriorly of the screen over the cutout therein and to curve upwardly away from the screen when mounted thereon and means for removably securing said extension to the screen comprising an annular threaded retainer at the end of said extension at the screen cutout, said retainer having a flange projecting outwardly beyond the screen cutout on the exterior side of the screen and an annular threaded cap threaded onto said retainer, said cap havprojecting away from the plane of the screen. 

1. An insect escapement for a cutout in a screen comprising a funnel-shaped extension open at opposite ends and adapted to be positioned exteriorly of the screen over the cutout therein and to curve upwardly away from the screen when mounted thereon and means for removably securing said extension to the screen comprising an annular threaded retainer at the end of said extension at the screen cutout, said retainer having a flange projecting outwardly beyond the screen cutout on the exterior side of the screen and an annular threaded cap threaded onto said retainer, said cap having a flange projecting outwardly beyond the screen cutout on the interior side of the screen, said cap flange being cooperative with said retainer flange to sandwich the portion of the screen around the cutout therebetween when said cap is threaded into said retainer, said cap flange being of a thickness not appreciably greater than the thickness of the screen and including a pair of tabs on diametrically opposite sides of said cap flange projecting away from the plane of the screen. 